Qatari gas tanker struck in Gulf amid escalating tensions in Middle East

A Qatari tanker has been attacked with "unidentified objects" while transiting Gulf waters, the country's state news agency reported Sunday (1 November).

The attack on Friday evening struck a liquefied natural gas carrier, Al Mayeda, which belongs to the Qatar Gas Transport Company, Qatar News Agency said.

Since the Middle East war broke out in February, Iran has been targeting vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and wider Gulf in an effort to assert control over shipping.

It says ships must obtain its permission to transit.

In response, the US has been blockading Iranian ports.

None of the crew members onboard the vessel struck on Friday were injured and there was no environmental impact from the attack, the report said.

The ship was in a "safe condition" and operational, the Qatari company was cited as saying.

Qatar, a mediator in the war, has stepped up diplomatic efforts in recent days in an attempt to revive negotiations between the United States and Iran.

Iranian forces 'ready for any enemy scenario: IRGC

Brigadier-General Yadollah Javani, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ deputy for political affairs, says Iranian forces are operating on the assumption that the US or Israel could strike at any moment, Al Jazeera reported citing Fars.

He said that the military is "fully prepared for any scenario the enemy may devise", and that Iran will not be caught off guard and will respond as necessary.

Javani said Iran’s military capabilities now allow it to confront the enemy not only defensively but also through preemptive and offensive operations.

He said Iran can inflict heavy, devastating strikes on US warships and warned that any region that enemy forces try to enter – whether by air assault or across a border – would become a “killing ground” for them.

Rezaei warns Tehran will use new weaponry to deliver 'devastating blows' if attacked

Iran will deliver "devastating blows" against any aggressor using new weaponry if the country comes under attack, security chief Mohsen Rezaei warned on Sunday, while reiterating that Tehran's seven conditions must be met before diplomacy can move forward.

In a post on X, Rezaei said Iran remained open to diplomacy if its conditions were fulfilled, but would respond forcefully to any hostile action against the country.

He said the warning was in line with a directive issued by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei to the armed forces earlier on Sunday to maintain readiness to respond to any attack.

Trump says US in no rush for Iran deal, warns of swift strikes on nuclear sites

US President Donald Trump has said Washington is in no hurry to reach an agreement with Iran, questioning Tehran's reliability while warning that the United States could strike one or two remaining nuclear facilities within minutes.

Speaking to reporters at a Halloween event at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida on Saturday, Trump said negotiations with Tehran were progressing but accused Iran of repeatedly backing away from agreements.

"They're going fine, but they're not very reliable. They make a deal, and then they back out," he said, adding that Iran wanted an agreement but it remained to be seen whether it would follow through.

Trump said the US had already crippled Iran's navy, air force and air defence systems and struck its nuclear facilities. He claimed one or two sites remained to be dealt with and could be targeted "in 10 minutes".

The US president said Washington had no urgency to conclude negotiations, despite describing the talks as going well.

Asked whether the US could resume attacks on Iran as early as the coming week, Trump dismissed the question as "stupid", adding that he would not disclose any plans for potential military action.

His remarks came as Iranian negotiators met Qatari mediators in Doha on Saturday in efforts to find a way to end the conflict. The diplomatic contacts are being coordinated with Washington, while concerns persist over the possibility of renewed US strikes.

Iran rules out nuclear policy shift, says talks can follow fulfilment of its demands

Iran's Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei has said Washington's tone towards Tehran has changed significantly, describing the shift as a sign of Iran's growing strength, while insisting that any discussion on its nuclear programme must wait until Iranian demands are met.

In an interview with Iranian state television on Saturday, Rezaei said he had received and studied a letter from US Vice President JD Vance but had yet to respond.

"Their tone has completely changed, and this is a very good sign that the Iranian nation has consolidated its victory and authority," he said.

Rezaei said no new decision had been taken to change Iran's nuclear policy, adding that Tehran remained open to discussing the issue once its demands were fulfilled.

He said Iran was pursuing diplomacy seriously but would not compromise on its national rights.

The remarks come as Washington and Tehran continue indirect diplomatic contacts, with Vance's letter reportedly seeking to revive negotiations. The contents of the letter have not been made public.

Tehran ready for war but leaves door open to US talks, says Araghchi

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said Tehran is prepared for any possibility of renewed war with the US and Israel but remains open to diplomacy if Washington accepts its conditions.

In an interview with Al Jazeera, Araghchi said Iran could consider reopening the Strait of Hormuz under a revised proposal with a two-day implementation period.

He said Qatar and Pakistan were continuing consultations on Tehran's demands, which include recognition of designated shipping routes and closure of other routes through the waterway.

Araghchi ruled out an immediate meeting with US officials, saying Tehran would decide on direct or indirect negotiations once its conditions were accepted.

He also said restoring normal cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency would take considerable time, while reaffirming Iran's commitment to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Source: The News Pakistan